tumbling, tramp, diving, acrobatics, circus, cheer, dance, martial arts, X sports … and more
… our newest initiative, the Winning Well Safe Sport Speaker Series, designed to enhance awareness and knowledge regarding various topics related to safe sport.
Recognizing that the well-being of children and athletes is a collective responsibility, this monthly webinar series aims to foster a culture of safety within our gymnastics community.
Gretchen Kerr, Dean, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education at U of Toronto, is the first speaker.
Canada’s Minister of Sport, Carla Qualtrough, this afternoon announced a national commission to address safe-sport issues, but stopped short of calling a national inquiry.
… a suite of measures, including a Future of Sport in Canada Commission that will hold a summit and produce two reports during its 18-month mandate.
An independent commissioner and two special advisers will head the commission.
Among other measures announced were moving the new Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) and its abuse-free program out of the Sports Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC), increasing the capacity of AthletesCan, elevating Sport Canada’s athlete advisory committee to a ministerial committee, modernizing Sport Canada’s funding framework and developing a sport integrity framework, with policies around match manipulation and safeguarding children.
Toronto Star
It makes no sense for the Gymnastics Canada Suspended/Expelled Members list to include people who are in prison alongside some who are under investigation — who might yet be found innocent.
At minimum, there should be two lists.
Next, there should be more detail attached to why the guilty individuals were suspended / expelled.
Here’s a news report from the U.K. on this issue.
For many, many gymnasts the opportunity for a College scholarship to gain their education is a fantastic experience. Indeed, the vast majority of gymnasts I’ve spoken with are happy with their decision to compete after Club.
BUT it doesn’t work for all. I’m particularly concerned about risk of serious injury competing so many times each season in NCAA.
Recently, Molly Hensley-Clancy and Emily Giambalvo did a deep dive into female college gymnasts complaints for the Washington Post:
I believe that story is not behind the paywall.
Schools identified in the article:
Eating disorders are common for many young women, especially college athletes. But studies consistently find female gymnasts are at a staggeringly high risk, with a 2004 study finding 42 percent of gymnasts and other elite “aesthetic sport” athletes, such as figure skaters, had disordered eating habits, compared with 16 percent in sports like soccer or basketball.
Certainly I believe the complainants.
I also believe that many of their teammates had positive experiences with the same coaches. Both can be simultaneously true.
Are things getting better in the NCAA?
A powerful moment.
The Heisman Trophy winner 2022 was devastated after a 52–42 loss.
He went directly to the stands to sob in his mother’s arms.
Asked about his reaction after the Washington loss, Williams said it’s important to be himself.
“I’ve been an advocate for mental health, trying to show your emotions and express yourself, things like that,” Williams said to the Orange County Register’s Luca Evans.
“It’s something I’ve been doing since I was young and now, being on the national level, being able to try and share that awareness with the public.” …
Sports Illustrated
Concussion Ball is rife with toxic masculinity.
Caleb Williams is the opposite. Confident enough not to hide his emotions.
He was criticized by some dinosaurs. But I call Caleb a winner. Like Simone in Tokyo.
Authors Gordon MacLelland (Chief Executive Officer at Working With Parents in Sport) and Sarah Murray.
… launch comes following the partnership we launched with Working With Parents in Sport (WWPIS) last year, supporting making a real difference in the gymnastics community.
The UK-based company has been leading our work to help support parents, gymnasts, and coaches to have positive relationships so young people thrive both in and out of their sport. …
It consists of six key focus areas, which are also the focus of WWPIS interactive sessions:
1) Performance sports parenting – an introduction
2) Parent parent OR sport parent – striking the balance
3) What’s your lens?
4) Managing disappointment – avoiding devastation
5) “Fast cars; poor brakes” – the adolescent brain
6) The end – Beyond the Badge
British Gymnastics
More than 150 participants attended the first day of the second symposium of “Our Safe Sport Journey” onsite in Antwerp (BEL) and around 130 joined the event online. They benefited from the knowledge and experience of various inspiring speakers, including safeguarding experts, coaches and gymnasts. …
Carrying on the legacy of last year’s first edition in Liverpool (GBR), the different speakers emphasized the importance of establishing a safe environment for athletes and coaches. Donatella Sacchi, President of the FIG Safeguarding Commission, presented the new Safeguarding Certificate for coaches, which was implemented recently. This mandatory course will help improve the education of coaches and their level of knowledge about safeguarding matters. …
Enlightening second symposium of Our Safe Sport Journey ends on encouraging note
The Safeguarding Certificate is only available for coaches in the FIG database.
Recordings of the first day (3 October), co-organised by the FIG and the Royal Belgian Gymnastics Federation, is now available on the FIG Education YouTube Channel, via this link.
This video is in Italian. But you can click the CC button to get it translated to other languages.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Steve Butcher recommends this new book by Dr. Robyn Silverman.
It’s a companion book to her podcast – How to Talk to Kids About Anything.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 